Sunday, February 26, 2017

by Rhonda Rhea@RhondaRheaIf we actually follow the “lather, rinse, repeat” instructions on the shampoo bottle, won’t we end up stuck in a shower-time-loop for the rest of our lives?

Then again, if we read the directions on a lot of these products, we might instead just end up confused for the rest of our lives. Like the can of spray paint labeled, “Do not spray in your face.” Wow. Barely dodged that bullet.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

"God writes the gospel not in the bible alone, but on trees and flowers and
clouds and stars." ~Martin Luther

Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

I also invite you to use this image any way you like online. Post it to your blog, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, anywhere you'd like. All I ask is that you keep it intact, with my website watermark visible.

Friday, February 24, 2017

Somewhere
between Lexington, South Carolina and Rota, Spain, I realized that writing is a
lot like flying. Luggage, boarding passes, and four-ounce. TSA approved bottles
of essential liquids aside, I’d like to share three similarities.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagasHave you ever wondered about
the path your life seems to be following?

Why is it so rough at times,
filled with problems and pain? Doubts and fears assail us like fierce winter
storms.

One thing I’ve learned over
the years is my path is uniquely my own, planned just for me. There are moments
when it feels extremely lonely, especially in those rough times. And in those
times where a colleague or a friend or relative seems to be joyously skipping
along in happiness.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMillsWriting and
research go hand in hand. Every topic, whether fiction or non-fiction, needs an
element of research. If the manuscript isn’t accurate, the reader will
recognize the flaw and toss your work aside. If a writer is spot-on, she will
be rewarded with good reviews and more readers. Sort of a no-brainer for us
writers.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

by Edie Melson @EdieMelsonI don’t mean no to writing opportunities—say no to some other things in your life. We all only have so much time in a day. And if you’re like me, it’s filled to overflowing. So that means changing some priorities. Sounds easy, but to anyone who’s tried, it can be tough to carve out time for writing.

Monday, February 20, 2017

If you’re a writer or other
type of creative, social media is a must. In this day and age, if someone can’t
easily find you online, it’s detrimental to your public image. But do you know
having an inactive media platform can be more hurtful than not having one at
all?

Sunday, February 19, 2017

I find it’s easy to say because the corners of my mouth turn up when
the word is formed.

Just try it. Say it with me out loud, “Yes!” See? A smile naturally
forms on your face when this word is spoken. (It’s possible to say it with a
straight face, but I contend that it’s work to do so; therefore, not natural. But
I digress.)

Saturday, February 18, 2017

We are a people defined by contrast. We judge good by bad, abundance by lack, happy by sad. We can't even imagine one without the other—think I'm wrong? Try to picture a coin with only one side. Not possible, is it?

Often my most treasured times follow my most trying times. What about you?

What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. - John Steinbeck

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Sometimes they creep up on us. Sometimes they hit us with a battering ram. We may try to push them away, but until we slay our giants with the right weapons, they will ambush us in our writing journey.

You know what I’m talking about. The nagging voice of self-doubt, the bully of perfectionism. They keep us from finishing our work in progress by stealing our zeal and plugging up our creativity.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

"Times, they is hard and they is clampin' down on a body's heart like a snake that bites and won't let go."

I loved my grandmother. She was such true woman of the Appalachians whose mountain phrases would either make you roll with laughter or scratch your head. Either way, there was always great wisdom there.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Yep, I've finally done it. I had a website built. But whether you can tell or not, this blog is still on blogger, it's just been coded to look like my brand new website. As long as you're on the blog page, you're on my Blogger account. If you click the home button, you have migrated to my new website.I want to thank my website designer - Katrina Glover - from kikaDESIGN. She has been amazing to work with. Be sure to take a look around and let me know what you think!

Blogging is a great way to connect with our online audience. And while there are a lot more people out there doing it well, I still see some common
mistakes. These things affect a blog, making readers click away before they finish a post and even unsubscribe altogether.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

When my husband and
I were first married, we had very different views when it came to money. If the bills are paid — and
they always were — and there was no money left in the bank, as far as Rob
was concerned, we were fine. Nowadays, there’s always money left in the
bank. When we were first married … well, that was another story.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Those of us who marry for love, must understand that there is no logic to love. It strikes from nowhere and goes through stages. For the lucky ones it endures, deepens and morphs into deep commitment and friendship.

The cruelest joke is on those who enter the marriage bond only to discover that the love aspect was no more than a passing illusion, a false expectation, a lie fueled by imagination.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

“If you want to change the
world, pick up a pen.” This is one of my favorite writing quotes and is from
Martin Luther. Since the moment I heard it, I knew I had heard directly from
God as to my calling.

I had always wanted to do
something that made a difference. When I first started writing, I was content
to write in my office and have a few things published. But sitting there all
alone with my computer, didn’t make me feel like a world changer. Looking
across the top of my computer out the window at the vast landscape in front of
should have been inspirational. Instead because it was all the world I could
see every day, it felt very small.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

by Cynthia Owens @EfficiencyADictRecently, I spoke
with our local American Christian Fiction Writers chapter in Anderson, South
Carolina about how to organize writing files. Two simple tips we discussed
really got those writers excited. So, in honor of National Clean Out Your
Computer Day this Monday, February 13th, I’m sharing them with you
today.

Monday, February 6, 2017

Successful social
media is something of an art form—with lots of gray areas. Building a
successful online presence takes a good amount of flexibility and a little bit
of experimentation. But even though I encourage people to find their sweet
spots, there are a few things you want to avoid. Today I’d to weigh in on
linking your social media accounts and other major blogging and social media
no-nos.

Sunday, February 5, 2017

He watched me as
I wrote notes to Him in my first Bible. My seven-year-old hands formed those
letters big and loopy, hoping He would like the words I chose. They were my
first love notes.

He leaned near
and chuckled as I wrote an essay in third grade for the President. It was about
a jellybean’s journey from the factory all the way to the Big Guy’s desk in the
Oval Office. The President at that time had a weakness for jellybeans. God
smiled as I won that competition and received my very own letter from the
Commander-in-Chief.

God cried with
me over the words I wrote in secret as a nine year old when the ones who should
have protected me hurt me instead.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

To reach our biggest audience, often writers are called
on to be able to speak in public. When some of us hear that, we perk our ears
up like a good bird dog. Send me after it.

Others run and hide under the porch. Writing in the
solitary of our homes, on our back porch, or at our favorite coffee house does
not prepare us for standing in front of two, twenty, or two hundred people. Why,
we’d have to get out of our pj’s. (Just the thought made you tremble, didn’t it?)

But there could come that opportunity to get out of the
house and share about that topic you care about with others. And public
speaking, whether in person or through a monitor is becoming even more popular.
You know your story matters. What do you do?

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

It’s time again for Calendar Days. These are just
fun to read. They’re also a great way to jumpstart our creativity when looking
for ideas for articles and blog posts. They’re also a fun writing prompt
idea.

In addition,
calendar days are great conversation starters for social media sites like
Facebook and Twitter, especially when two contrasting holidays fall on the same
date.